Bruins agree to long-term agreement with Providence

With the likely departure of the Manchester Monarchs for the West Coast coming in the next few years, many local fans have harbored hope that Manchester might become the affiliate for the Boston Bruins.

For the foreseeable, that won’t be happening. The Bruins announced Wednesday that they have agreed to a long-term extension with the Providence Bruins to remain the team’s AHL affiliate. The length of the deal was not disclosed.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli also announced that assistant general manager Don Sweeney has been named the general manager for Providence and that Jay Pandolfo has been hired as development coach.

Sweeney enters his ninth season in the Bruins front office and his sixth as assistant general manager. The 16-year NHL veteran was drafted by the Bruins in the 1984 draft (166th overall).

The former NHL blueliner is one of just two defensemen and four players in team history to have played in more than 1,000 games with the team.

Pandolfo appeared in 899 NHL games throughout his career, notching 100 goals and 126 assists for 226 points and retired this year.

The P-Bruins have been Boston’s AHL affiliate since their inception in 1992 and the 23 consecutive season affiliation between is among the longest in either league’s history.